A moment in the limelight

Dancers from Limelight Theatre School have been strutting there stuff into a new studio in Rastrick.

Originally based at St Matthew’s Parish Centre, owners Lisa and James McCann made the decision to buy the property next door to them at auction and created their own studio.

“We found with the number of groups at the parish we weren’t able to do the classes as what we wanted to do,” said James.

“The house next door came up for sale and we decided to demolish it and build the studio.”

After purchasing the building in February last year, they started creating the new school in October and took four months to complete.

“It felt a little bit like Grand Designs as I had designed the plans from scratch and was the project manager so I was speaking to builders, plumbers and electricians. It was a big process and a big job

“Everyone would say how cold the parish centre was and when they came here they were like ‘wow’.

“The green floor fits in really well with the Limelight theme and everyone couldn’t quite believe what it all looked like.”

Limelight was founded by Lisa and James in 2007. They first met on Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines in 1999 and have performed together on ships, in hotels and theatres all over the UK.

When their daughter Eliza arrived, they decided to start their own business, utilising all their live entertainment skills.

Limelight has grown from just one class at St Matthew’s Parish Centre in Rastrick to hosting Summer and Christmas shows with casts of nearly a hundred and audiences of four times that.

To coincide with the opening of the Limelight Studio, they are teaming up with 4th Rastrick Guides to dance from 12pm till 6pm and raise stacks of money for Comic Relief on March 1.

They are also planning for a mystery guest to officially open the studio on the same day.